One of the biggest names in the niche world of dark ambient, Italy's New Risen Throne has been creating deep, immersive, disturbing soundscapes for almost 20 years. The brainchild of one Stiehl, born Gabriele Panci in Rome, New Risen Throne first appeared in 2002 with the self-released demo Prophet. This was followed over the course of the next few years by several CD-R albums on tiny indie labels Alarming Echo Beats and God Is Myth, whose amazing titles -- Flowing Ashes (2003), Chants for the Cold and Dying Sun (2004), and Along Endless Path of Emptiness (2004) -- give a clear indication of the kind of music contained within: cold and desolate drones like the howling of arctic gales, punctuated by ghostly whispers and the clanking of dungeon chains. (These releases were later compiled on an eponymous four-disc set issued in 2016 by Infinite Fog Productions.) During this time, he also released split albums with Locust Reign and Cruel Harvest. The first "proper" New Risen Throne album came in 2007 with Whispers of the Approaching Wastefulness, the beginning of a fruitful partnership with Cyclic Law, one of the biggest dark ambient labels. The albums Crossing the Withered Regions (2009) and Loneliness of Hidden Structures (2011) followed, before the project went dark for eight years. New Risen Throne resurfaced in a guest appearance on fellow Cyclic Law artist Neraterræ's 2019 album The Substance of Perception before putting out his seventh album, The Outside, the following year; it was a highly anticipated "event" release among the dark ambient fan community. ~ John D. Buchanan, Rovi